One of our most popular 2025 podcast series is now available in full. Dr. Chris Aiken, Editor-in-Chief of The Carlat Psychiatry Report, and Kellie Newsome, PMHNP share expert tips on drug titration — including psych meds that are better tolerated when started faster, and one that must be launched at a high dose and then tapered down to a low maintenance dose. (Spoiler: it’s not buprenorphine.)

Each episode ends with a practice-changing research update drawn from Dr. Aiken’s daily psych social media feed. Follow along and join the conversation:

All Episodes — How to Start a Psych Medication

• Episode 1 How to Start a Psych Medication I

  The fundamentals — what to have in place before writing the first prescription.

• Episode 2 How to Start a Psych Medication II

  Meds that require special skill to start: antipsychotics, Cobenfy, and a research update on antidepressant metabolism in Asian patients.

• Episode 3 How to Start a Psych Medication III

  Meds that require special skill to start: atomoxetine and prazosin, plus a new FDA warning on stimulants.

• Episode 4 How to Start a Psych Medication IV

  Ziprasidone and quetiapine — one goes better fast, one slow. Plus the mystery of ghost pills and a research update on pramipexole.

• Episode 5 How to Start a Psych Medication V

  Meds that require special skill to start: clozapine and lamotrigine.

• Episode 6 How to Start a Psych Medication VI

  Lithium, pramipexole, bupropion, carbamazepine, valproate, and trazodone — meds that require special skill to start.